RN / Infection Preventionist

Enhanced Benefits Now Available!

Qualifications :

I. Must have primary professional training innursing, medical technology, microbiology, epidemiology, or other relatedfield.

II. Must be qualified by education, training,experience or certification.

III. Must work at least part-time at the facility.

IV. Must complete specialized training in infectionprevention and control.

V. Evidence of good health, grooming, maturity, andemotional stability.

VI. Have genuine interest and concern for thelong-term resident with emphasis on infection control and prevention.

VII. Desire and interest to continue study, learn,and grow as a professional person.

VIII. Ability to communicate well and establish goodinterpersonal relationships.

Job Relationship :

Indirect supervision of staff in all departments.

Instructor to staff in all departments, residents, theirfamilies and visitors.

Collaboration with medical director, pharmacy, laboratory,and director of nursing related to antibiotic stewardship.

Participates as a member of the Quality Assessment andAssurance (QA&A) Committee.

Job Description :

The Infection Preventionist is responsible for thesupervision and training of all staff in all departments in relation toinfection prevention and control in the facility.

• Collects, tracks, trends, reports, analyzes, andprovides infection data to the nursing leadership, medical director, andQA&A Committee
• Reports data of information related tocompliance with established infection prevention and control policies andprocedures, State and Federal regulation or guidelines
• Coordinates surveillance and monitoring ofinfection prevention and control policies and procedures
• Knowledgeable of changes in infection preventionand control policy and protocols and communicates these changes to healthcarestaff
• Provides education and training to facilitystaff
• Maintains harmonious relationships withancillary personnel and the residents
• Attends educational classes to enhance knowledgeand skills related to infection prevention and control and leadership
• Actively participates on the QA&A Committeeto gain knowledge and share information which may facilitate improvement in theprovision of quality care and aid in decreasing infection in the facility
• Actively participates in care planning for allresidents by attending all care plan conferences

Duties and Responsibilities :

1. Conducts surveillance of all infections in thefacility and maintains an Infection Surveillance Log documenting theseinfections. Ensures Infection InitialReports are completed by nursing staff for each resident with aninfection. Completes Infection Follow UpReports when antibiotic therapy is complete for residents with an infection.

2. Conducts regular audits of procedures / activitiesperformed by staff in all departments to monitor compliance with infectionprevention and control policies and protocols within the facility. Performs medication and treatment cart / medroom audits on each hall monthly to monitor compliance of infection controlregulations.

3. Develops and implements an infection preventionand control plan for the facility.

4. Tracks the PPD administration / TB riskassessments of all residents and ensures they are completed and documented inthe medical record.

5. Tracks influenza and pneumococcal vaccinationstatus of all residents, ensures they are given as indicated and documented inthe medical records. Provides educationto residents / representatives about these immunizations and ensures properconsents / declinations are obtained and placed in the medical record.

6. Tracks influenza vaccination status of allemployees annually, provides education to employees on the flu vaccine, andensures proper consents / declinations are obtained and records are placed inemployees' files.

7. Tracks Hepatitis B vaccination status of allemployees upon hire and as indicated, provides education to employees on theHepatitis B vaccination, and ensures proper consents / declinations are obtainedand records are placed in employees' files.

8. Maintains an on-hand list of reportablecommunicable diseases and a contact list for reporting communicabledisease. In the event a resident orstaff member has a reportable communicable disease, reports the disease to theproper entity per State regulation.

9. Evaluates annually, updates, develops, andimplements facility policies and procedures related to infection prevention andcontrol, and other care areas as indicated.

10. Participates in the completion of the annualFacility Assessment. Develops actionplans according to this assessment.

11. Participates as a member of the QA&Acommittee. Attends QA&A committeemeetings quarterly and as indicated. Reports surveillance data / analysis and compliance monitoring results toQA&A committee and participates in the implementation of facility policiesand procedures.

12. Actively participates in the facility QAPIplan. Conducts QAPI activities such asPerformance Improvement Projects and participating in interdisciplinary teammeetings to determine areas of care that need improvement.

13. Participates as a member of the AntibioticStewardship Program Team. Collects andreviews data, communicates with pharmacy and laboratory related to antibioticuse in the facility, and reports findings to the QA&A Committee quarterly.

14. Actively participates in resident care planningby attending and leading all resident care plan conferences. Ensures all care plans for residents who havean infection are updated and implemented accordingly.

15. Travels to healthcare facilities in the area toperform assessments for potential admissions to determine if their needs can bemet in the facility when the admissions coordinator or director of nursingrequests.

16. Provides education and training to facilitystaff. Provides education to residents,families and visitors. Notifies staff ofnew or updated policies or protocols. Ensures that in-service education requirements on infection preventionand control practices are adhered to.

17. Sets a positive example for the rest of thestaff.

18. Is neat, clean, courteous and professional atall times.